Top tips to save energy
We have all heard of the most common tips, such as turning down the thermostat a degree and using LED lights. But what actually makes the most difference and how much?
We have listed our top suggestions in order of the highest likely savings and provided 2 charts - those that don’t cost any money to implement, as well as those that cost money but pay back.
All of these may in fact be worth more as prices continue to increase in the market… But are currently based on data from the Energy Savings Trust.
FREE TO IMPLEMENT TOP 6
Worth up to £182 before cash from us!
£55 The one degree less on your thermostat
There is a reason why you have heard this one before - it’s the biggest saving without any cost outlay.
£35 Switch off standby
You can save around £35 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.
£35 Lose the clothes dryer
Air drying clothes is free, it just takes longer. But for some, the extra savings will be worth it.
£30 Use your kitchen appliances more carefully
Cutting back your dishwasher use by just one cycle per week can save £8 a year on energy. Cutting back your washing machine use by just one cycle per week can save another £8 a year. Setting all washes at 30 degrees can save another £8. Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need, is another £6 a year.
£16 Spend less time in the shower
Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save up to £4 a year off your energy bills, per person. So for an average household of 4, it’s £16.
£11 Turn off the lights
Popular with Dads. Less popular with children... Turn your lights off when you’re not using them. If you switch a light off for just a few seconds, you will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again, regardless of the type of light. (That just ruined the argument I always made with my Dad…)
COST TO IMPLEMENT TOP 7
Worth up to £1,219 before cash from us!
£820 Insulation
Again, the one we have all heard before because it just really counts. There are also programmes from time to time that help fund insulation, given it’s so important. The savings vary by insulation type as follows:
£350 solid wall insulation or £255 cavity wall insulation
£70 floor insulation
£315 roof and loft insulation
£85 hot water tank insulation
£213 Choose energy efficient appliances
To give you a guide as to how much you save with energy efficient appliances, check these out:
£96 tumble dryers
£69 fridge freezer
£48 washing machines
£70 Take control of your heating
Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves and using these controls efficiently could save you around £70 a year.
£43 Draught proofing
Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £25 a year. If you have an open chimney, draught-proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £18 a year.
£30 Switch to LEDs
Most of us have done this one by now but if you haven’t, it’s still a top tip. New info to us - the higher the wattage, the higher the savings with a 100 watt incandescent bulb saving up to £7 per bulb per year.
£30 Get a new shower head
If you’ve got a shower that takes hot water straight from your boiler or hot water tank (rather than an electric shower), fit a water efficient shower head. This will reduce your hot water usage while retaining the sensation of a powerful shower. For a family of 4, this can be as much as £30 a year on gas for water heating (as well as a further on water bills, if you have a water meter).
£13 Foil behind radiators
Installing a panel of reflective foil behind your radiators could save you around £13 a year by reflecting heat back into the room. A bog-standard sheet of kitchen tin foil does the job and is a low-cost option.
You can get further personalised advice here.
You can also check for eligible grants here.
